The controversial Bahrain F1 Grand Prix "faces an investigation if the FIA appoints a new leader," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES.
David Ward, who is campaigning to take over from Jean Todt as president of motor racing’s ruling body, "criticised his rival’s 'poor decision-making' for sending F1 into the strife-torn kingdom last year despite street protests and a huge crackdown by police and the military."
Todt "gave the Bahrain Grand Prix his blessing despite warnings that it would be a public relations disaster for the sport, particularly when the government ran the race under the banner of 'UniF1ed,' a blatantly political message that flew in the face of the FIA’s statutes." Ward "had sympathy with Todt but was clear that the FIA and F1 'crossed the line' by allowing the Bahrain authorities to politicise the grand prix." The race was canceled in '11 "because of riots that resulted in dozens of deaths and mass arrests but was reinstated after Todt commissioned a report from the head of the Spanish motorsport federation." This report "came to be regarded as flimsy evidence that all was well in the kingdom" (LONDON TIMES, 9/30). The BBC's Andrew Benson reported Ward and Todt "are the only candidates to have declared so far" for the Dec. 6 FIA election (BBC, 9/30).

Tasmania cricket captain George Bailey "has slammed Cricket Australia's scheduling of all Ryobi Cup games in Sydney, and says the condensed one-day tournament will affect emerging players' chances of representing their country," according to Chris Barrett of THE AGE.
The Tigers lost by 81 runs to New South Wales on Sunday "in the first match of the domestic season, folding to be all out for 97 as the Blues grabbed an unlikely bonus point as well."
It "left a sour taste in the mouth of Bailey," who said that NSW was being given an unfair advantage. Bailey said that "the players and the Australian Cricketers' Association should have been consulted more on the structure of the domestic season and called on CA's cash cow, the Big Bash League, to be shortened further" (THE AGE, 9/30).